I’ll check now, Mom. Hopefully, you ordered ice cream. LOTS of ice cream.
Of course, my love.
I take the elevator down and open the door to our building. I don’t see any groceries, but what I do see is Harrison sitting on the bench across the street.
I hesitate, and as if he can sense me, he looks up, and we lock eyes. Like a magnet, I’m pulled to him, and my heart responds instantly, thumping steadily against my chest.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper.
“I’m sorry, baby. I thought you’d be inside for the night.” He shrugs. “I-I was missing you and sitting here makes me feel closer.”
My heart stops. “You’ve been here before?”
He hangs his head. “Almost every night.”
My strong man looks so alone and dejected, breaking my heart all over again. I need his touch, his closeness, so I walk closer and sit next to him, interlocking our fingers.
“I miss you too,” I murmur, placing my head on his shoulders. “We’re going to work it all out soon. I promise.”
We sit like this for what feels like hours, silently soaking in each other’s company, until his phone buzzes, and he sighs, unimpressed. “I need to get back. Leo is dropping Claud off at the house now.”
We sit for another minute until I turn and lightly kiss his lips.
“Infinity times infinity,” I whisper.
His breath hitches, and I don’t try to dry my tears. Both of our emotions are fragile at the moment. He understands my tears.
“I love you too,mon petit papillon.” He brushes away a slight wisp of hair and kisses me again. “Come back to me soon, Juliette. I’m waiting for you.”
The days are long, but the nights are longer when you’re all alone in your head.
It’s been another two weeks since I’ve seen Harrison, and my insecurities are at an all-time high. He has Claudina call me every night, and I can sometimes hear him in the background, but he never asks to talk to me, and my stubborn ass doesn’t either.
If I hadn’t known he’d been calling Mom to check in on me, I would have wondered if what we had was even real.
But I’m ready to gohomenow…I’m mentally more vital than ever before, and my therapist thinks I’ve given Sebastian enough time to come to terms with his feelings. Now it’s on him to make an effort.
She’s helped me with personal priorities, and we’re working on putting myself first, which includes taking steps to get back into the dance community.
Teaching Claud a few days a week apparently doesn’t count. It was some of my favorite times of the week, and now that my injuries have healed, I can’t wait to get back to that special time with her.
But besides all that, I’ve been more stressed over a different issue.
Our lease.
It’s coming to an end sooner rather than later, and we still don’t have a new location secured.
After Barbara ghosted me, Leo set me up with a realtor he knew, and he’s shown us some great places. Only Mom hates most of them, or when we make an offer on one we do like, someone outbids us.
I’m tempted to take my Black Card that’s burning a hole in my pocket, buy us something expensive, and call it a day.
I would never.Even if Harrison would prefer it.
Either way, I’m not letting it upset me anymore. I’m moving on, and Mom and I are going to start a new chapter in our book.
And hopefully, by this weekend, Harrison and Claud will be a part of it.
I’m ready, Harrison.
